WTW: How did you come to be an instructor at the Castle?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: One day GM Kernspecht called me and requested a meeting, during which he asked me if I would like to take the classes at Langenzell Castle. Naturally I said yes! It was a dream come true for me. "Don’t dream your life, live your dream". What WT-follower would not like to swap places with me? Of course all the training and everything it involves is "hard work". But since I enjoy working with people – especially in connection with WingTsun – I see the whole thing as a kind of vocation.

WTW: Do you still teach outside Langenzell Castle?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: Yes, I run the schools in Kaiserslautern and Enkenbach-Alsenborn. Since recently I have also looked after the schools in St. Ingbert and Saarbrücken-Dudweiler with my friend and partner Gerd Stöß, though I only hold the instructor classes. Working at Langenzell Castle limits my time, therefore I primarily concentrate on the instructors. Apart from that, I think that the "masters" should teach the "instructors" and the "instructors" the "students".

WTW: What is your main emphasis when you train your students?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: My main teaching content is the same as more than 20 years ago, when I learned WT from my Si-Fu. Basics, basics, basics.

They are extremely important, and everything comes back to them. The real question is, why are they merely called "basic techniques"? Things end up as they started, and everything should come full-circle. After learning the individual process chains and each individual technique – whether it is the starting or final movement of an attack or defence – it is important to understand the background to them. For every technique, whether from the wooden dummy, long pole or double knives, is founded on the basic techniques! If these foundations have not been laid, or not solidly enough, it can be difficult to compensate for this later. Nobody who starts WT should merely train the movement sequences. The overall structure must be understood, and this knowledge can be obtained from the instructors – that is what they are there for. As long as we allow our fighting and strength principles to act and live within us, everything is allowed.

WTW: What does WT Master Thomas Schrön do when he is not teaching and learning WT?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: That’s a good question. My great passion is riding and archery with the English longbow, but unfortunately I don’t have time to do these regularly. Here too I act according to the principles of WingTsun. Drawing back the string and aiming at the mark is the same in WingTsun and in archery. In the time of the ancient Persians, every boy had to learn three things: riding, archery and telling the truth/loyalty!

WTW: Which brings me to my next question. What else is important to you?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: That students, instructors and masters of all martial arts styles return to ancient values such honour and loyalty. That they promote calm and understanding, rather than seeking division and disputes. The latter are only of value to weak individuals, as they take pleasure in them. Strong and courageous individuals concentrate on the essence, namely being in the right place at the right moment!.

WTW: How much training is necessary to become a fully-fledged WT expert or master?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: I don’t see myself as a master, but as a student who can still learn a great deal from his teacher – and daily training is essential for this. At this point I would like to thank my teacher GM Kernspecht with all my heart for everything I can do, and all I know and still have to learn. Time will tell what else is required to achieve true mastery. Man has three ways to act with wisdom and maturity. Firstly by thinking: that is the most noble. Secondly by imitation: that is the easiest. Thirdly by experience: that is the most bitter.

WTW: What do you find so fascinating about WT?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: The compelling logic. It is like chess on several levels, whether physical or purely mental. For me WingTsun is the queen of all martial arts. Even if it has not always been easy, and whatever the final purpose is, paths are created by treading them. However uncomfortable they may be.

WTW: Have you ever been in a situation where you had to defend yourself with WT (verbally or non-verbally). How did you resolve it?

Dai-Sifu Thomas: Unfortunately yes. I was young and unfortunately unable to resolve the situation by verbal means, as I had no knowledge of Blitzdefence at that time. Many do not appreciate the value of Blitzdefence, or underestimate its value and quality. It gives us in the EWTO a very effective means of deciding – in fact THE means of deciding - whether to simply strike or use Blitzdefence.

WTW: Thank you for this interview and wishes you every success in achieving your future goals.

Dai-Sifu Thomas: I wish you the same!

By Mirko Kannenwischer